Hinge with less abrasion

ABSTRACT

A hinge with less abrasion has a central bracket, a first tilt hinge assembly, a second tilt hinge assembly and a rotating hinge assembly. The central bracket has a main arm, a first arm and a second arm. The main arm has annular recess formed on an inner surface of the main arm. The first arm has annular recess respectively formed on an inner surface and an outer surface of the first arm. The first and second tilt hinge assemblies connect respectively to the first and second arms. The rotating hinge assembly connects to the main arm. Because strength of a material is enhanced when the material is pressed, the annular recesses of the main and first arms enhance the strength of the main and first arms to reduce the abrasion between the central bracket and the hinge assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hinge, especially to a hinge withless abrasion and mounted between a cover and a base of an electronicappliance.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Electrical appliances such as notebook computers, cell phones, etc. havea cover, a base and a conventional hinge. The conventional hingeconnects the cover to the base along a transverse axis and alongitudinal axis to allow the cover to pivot relative to the base. Tokeep the electronic appliance from being damaged when the cover ispivoted relative to the base, the conventional hinge comprises manyspacers having corresponding structures to provide positioning andlimiting functions. However, the corresponding spacers have to rotaterelative each other to provide positioning and limiting functions. Whenthe corresponding spacers rotate relative each other, the correspondingspacers rub against and wear each other. Therefore, the correspondingspacers are damaged easily.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a hingewith less abrasion to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a hinge withless abrasion. The hinge with less abrasion has a central bracket, afirst tilt hinge assembly, a second tilt hinge assembly and a rotatinghinge assembly. The central bracket has a main arm, a first arm and asecond arm. The main arm has annular recess formed on an inner surfaceof the main arm. The first arm has annular recess respectively formed onan inner surface and an outer surface of the first arm. The first andsecond tilt hinge assemblies connect respectively to the first andsecond arms. The rotating hinge assembly connects to the main arm.Because strength of a material is enhanced when the material is pressed,the annular recesses of the main and first arms enhance the strength ofthe main and first arms to reduce the abrasion between the centralbracket and the hinge assemblies.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hinge inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another exploded perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a barrel of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the hinge in FIG. 1 mounted in an electronicdevice;

FIG. 9 is an operational end view of the hinge in FIG. 1 mounted in theelectronic device when the electronic device is closed;

FIG. 10 is an operational perspective view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an operational side view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an operational bottom view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a partially exploded perspective view of a second embodimentof a hinge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a barrel of a third embodiment of ahinge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view in partial section of the barrel and a centralbracket of the hinge in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a side view in partial section of the barrel and a centralbracket of the hinge in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hinge in accordance with the presentinvention comprises a central bracket (10), a first tilt hinge assembly(20), a second tilt hinge assembly (30) and a rotating hinge assembly(40).

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the central bracket (10) is U-shapedand comprises a main arm (11), a first arm (12) and a second arm (13).

The main arm (11) has a first end, a second end, an inner surface, anouter surface, two sides, a circular central hole (111), two ribs (112),an annular recess (115), at least one positioning detent (113), at leastone limiting protrusion (114). The ribs (112) are respectively andperpendicularly formed on the two sides of the main arm (11) and extendfrom the inner surface. The annular recess (115) is formed in the innersurface of the main arm (11) around the central hole (111). The at leastone positioning detent (113) is formed in the annular recess (115). Theat least one limiting protrusion (114) is formed on and extends from theouter surface of the main arm (11).

The first arm (12) is formed perpendicularly on the first end of themain arm (11). The first arm (12) has an inner surface, an outersurface, a circular central hole (121), an inner annular recess (122),an inclined surface (123), at least one limiting protrusion (124), anouter annular recess (125), at least one positioning detent (126) and anoil channel (127). The inner annular recess (122) is formed in the innersurface of the first arm (12) around the central hole (121). Theinclined surface (123) is formed around the inner annular recess (122).The at least one limiting protrusion (124) is formed on and extends fromthe inner surface of the first arm (12). The outer annular recess (125)is formed in the outer surface of the first arm (12) around the centralhole (121). The at least one positioning detent (126) is formed in theouter annular recess (125). The oil channel (127) is formed in the outerannular recess (125).

The second arm (13) is formed perpendicularly on the second end of themain arm (11) and has a non-circular central hole (131).

The first tilt hinge assembly (20) connects to the first arm (12) of thecentral bracket (10) and comprises a tilt shaft (21), a stationarypositioning spacer (22), a first rotating bracket (23), a washer (24)and a fastener (25).

The tilt shaft (21) connects rotatably to the first arm (12) of thecentral bracket (10) and has an inner end, an outer end, an extensionrod (211), a positioning head (212), a limiting head (213), a limitingprotrusion (214), an annular protrusion (215) and a positioningprotrusion (216). The extension rod (211) is formed axially on the outerend of the tilt shaft (21) and extends through the central hole (121) ofthe first arm (12). The extension rod (211) may be a threaded rod. Thepositioning head (212) is formed radially on the inner end of the tiltshaft (21). The limiting head (213) is formed radially on the outer endof the tilt shaft (21). An outer surface of the limiting head (213)abuts the inner surface of the first arm (12). The limiting protrusion(214) is formed transversely on an edge of the limiting head (213) andselectively abuts the at least one limiting protrusion (124) of thefirst arm (12). The annular protrusion (215) is formed on the outersurface of the limiting head (213) around the extension rod (211) andcorresponds to and engages the inner annular recess (122) of the firstarm (12). The positioning protrusion (216) is formed on an inner surfaceof the positioning head (212).

With further reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the stationary positioningspacer (22) is mounted securely on the extension rod (211) of the tiltshaft (21) and is adjacent to the outer surface of the first arm (12).The stationary positioning spacer (22) is resilient, is “>-shaped” inside view and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a centralprotrusion (221) and at least one positioning protrusion (222). Anannular edge of the inner surface of the stationary positioning spacer(22) abuts the outer surface of the first arm (12). The centralprotrusion (221) is formed axially around a central of the outer surfaceof the stationary positioning spacer (22). The at least one positioningprotrusion (222) is formed on the inner surface of the stationarypositioning spacer (22) and corresponds to and selectively engages theat least one positioning detent (126) of the first arm (12).

The first rotating bracket (23) is mounted securely on the extension rod(211) of the tilt shaft (21), is L-shaped and has a main leaf. The mainleaf of the first rotating bracket (23) is mounted securely on theextension rod (211) of the tilt shaft (21) and has an inner surface, anouter surface, a central protrusion (231) and a central recess (232).The central protrusion (231) is formed axially around a central of theinner surface of the main leaf of the first rotating bracket (23) andabuts the central protrusion (221) of the stationary positioning spacer(22). The central recess (232) is formed in the outer surface of themain leaf of the first rotating bracket (23).

The washer (24) is mounted around the extension rod (211) of the tiltshaft (21). The fastener (25) is mounted securely on a tip of theextension rod (211) of the tilt shaft (21). The fastener (25) may be anut screwed onto the extension rod (211).

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 14, 15 and 16, the second tilt hingeassembly (30) connects to the second arm (13) of the central bracket(10) and comprises a barrel (31) and a second rotating bracket (32).

The barrel (31) connects securely to the second arm (13) of the centralbracket (10), is non-circular in cross section and has an inner end, anouter end, an outer wall, multiple steps and an annular protrusion(311). The steps are formed along the outer wall of the barrel (31) andthe diameters of the steps are reduced from the inner end to the outerend. The steps comprise a head (313) formed on the inner end of thebarrel (31), an initial step (314) formed adjacent to the head (313),and a last step (315) formed on the outer end of the barrel (31). Thehead (313) of the barrel (31) has the largest diameter of the steps, theinitial step (314) has the second largest diameter of the steps, and thelast step (315) has the smallest diameter of the steps. The annularprotrusion (311) extends axially out of the outer end of the barrel(31). Multiple gaps (312) are formed in the annular protrusion (311).

An extension wing (317) extends radially out of the inner end of thebarrel (31) and abuts the main arm (11) of the central bracket (10) toincrease stability.

The barrel (31) is mounted securely in the central hole (131) of thesecond arm (13) of the central bracket (10). The initial step (314) maybe mounted tightly in the central hole (131) of the second arm (13) ofthe central bracket (10) to mount the barrel (31) securely in thecentral hole (131) of the second arm (13). The barrel (31) may have afastening protrusion (316) extending radially out of the outer wall ofthe barrel (31) and abutting the outer surface of the second arm (13) tomount the barrel (31) securely in the central hole (131) of the secondarm (13). The barrel (31) may be formed on the second arm (13).

The second rotating bracket (32) is mounted rotatably on the last step(315) of the barrel (31) and abuts the annular protrusion (311) of thebarrel (31).

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotating hinge assembly (40)connects to the main arm (11) of the central bracket (10). The rotatinghinge assembly (40) comprises a central shaft (41), a resilient spacer(42), a rotating positioning spacer (43), a stationary limiting spacer(44), a rotating limiting spacer (45) and a fastening bracket (46).

The central shaft (41) connects rotatably to the main arm (11), extendsthrough the central hole (111) of the main arm (11) and has an innerend, an outer end, a limiting head (411) and multiple fasteningprotrusions (415). The limiting head (411) is formed radially on theinner end of the central shaft (41), corresponds to the positioning head(212) of the tilt shaft (21) and has two limiting sides (412), two flatsides (413) and an annular slot (414). The limiting sides (412) areopposite to each other. The flat sides (413) are opposite to each other.Each limiting side (412) are formed between two flat sides (413). Thelimiting sides (412) and the flat sides (413) alternatively align withthe positioning head (212) of the tilt shaft (21). The annular slot(414) is formed radially in the limiting head (411) of the central shaft(41) and corresponds to and selectively engages the positioningprotrusion (216) of the positioning head (212) of the tilt shaft (21).The fastening protrusions (415) extend axially from the outer end of thecentral shaft (41).

The resilient spacer (42) is mounted around the central shaft (41).

The rotating positioning spacer (43) is mounted securely on the centralshaft (41) and is adjacent to the inner surface of the main arm (11) andhas at least one positioning protrusion (431). The at least onepositioning protrusion (431) is formed on the rotating positioningspacer (43) and corresponds to and selectively engages the positioningdetent (113) of the main arm (11).

With further reference to FIG. 13, the stationary limiting spacer (44)is mounted around the central shaft (41) and has a thickness, a limitingprotrusion (441) formed radially on an edge of the stationary limitingspacer (44) or a limit protrusion (441′) formed axially on thestationary limiting spacer (44).

The rotating limiting spacer (45) is mounted securely on the centralshaft (41) and has a thickness, a first limiting protrusion (451) and asecond limiting protrusion (452). The thickness of the rotating limitingspacer (45) is thicker than the thickness of the stationary limitingspacer (44). The first and second limiting protrusions (451, 452) areformed axially on the rotating limiting spacer (45) and are opposite toeach other. The first limiting protrusion (451) selectively abuts thelimiting protrusions (114, 441, 441′) of the main arm (11) and thestationary limiting spacer (44).

The fastening bracket (46) is mounted securely on the outer end of thecentral shaft (41) and has a fastening hole (461), multiple fasteningdetents (462) and at least one limiting protrusion (463). The fasteningdetents (462) are formed radially in the fastening hole (461) and engagethe fastening protrusions (415) of the central shaft (41) to mount thefastening bracket (46) securely on the central shaft (41). The at leastone limiting protrusion (463) is formed on the fastening bracket (46)and corresponds to and selectively abuts the second limiting protrusion(452) of the rotating limiting spacer (45).

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 8, the hinge as described is mountedbetween a cover (50) and a base (60). The fastening bracket (46) of therotating hinge assembly (40) is attached to the cover (50). The firstand second rotating brackets (23, 32) are attached to the base (60).With further reference to FIG. 9, when the cover (50) is opened orclosed relative to the base (60), the cover (50) rotates the centralbracket (10) and the rotating hinge assembly (40) relative to the firstand second rotating brackets (23, 32). With further reference to FIG.10, when the cover (50) is rotated relative to the base (60), the cover(50) rotates the fastening bracket (46) relative to the central bracket(10).

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9, the cover (50) is opened orclosed relative to the base (60). The first arm (12) is rotated relativeto the tilt shaft (21).

Because the stationary positioning spacer (22) is mounted securely onthe tilt shaft (21), the first arm (12) rotates relative to thestationary positioning spacer (22). When the at least one positioningdetent (126) of the first arm (12) engages the at least one positioningprotrusion (222), the cover (50) is positioned relative to the base(60).

The limiting protrusion (124) of the first arm (12) abuts the limitingprotrusion (214) of the tilt shaft (21) to limit the rotating angle ofthe cover (50).

When the first arm (12) rotates relative to the tilt shaft (21), thelimiting head (213) of the tilt shaft (21) rubs against the innerannular recess (122) and the inclined surface (123) of the first arm(12). Because a strength of a material is enhanced when the material ispressed, the inner annular recess (122) and the inclined surface (123)of the first arm (12) enhance the strength of the first arm (12) toreduce the abrasion between the limiting head (213) of the tilt shaft(21). In the same principle, the outer annular recess (125) reduces theabrasion on the outer surface of the first arm (12).

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 10 to 12, the cover (50) is rotatedrelative to the base (60). The fastening bracket (46) rotates thecentral shaft (41) relative to the central bracket (10).

Because the rotating positioning spacer (43) is mounted securely on thecentral shaft (41), the rotating positioning spacer (43) is rotatedrelative to the main arm (11) of the central bracket (10). When the atleast one positioning protrusion (431) of the rotating positioningspacer (43) engages the at least one positioning detent (113) of themain arm (11), the cover (50) is positioned relative to the base (60).

Because the rotating limiting spacer (45) is mounted securely on thecentral shaft (41), the rotating limiting spacer (45) is rotatedrelative to the stationary limiting spacer (44) and the main arm (11).The limiting protrusions (451, 452) of the rotating limiting spacer (45)abut the limiting protrusions (114, 441, 441′) of the main arm (11) andthe stationary limiting spacer (44) to limit the rotating angle of thecover (50).

When the rotating positioning spacer (43) rotates relative the main arm(11), the rotating positioning spacer (43) rubs against the innersurface of the main arm (11). The annular recess (15) of the main arm(11) reduces the abrasion of the main arm (11).

When the flat sides (413) of the limiting head (411) of the centralshaft (41) align with the positioning head (212) of the tilt shaft (21),the positioning protrusion (216) is engaged from the annular slot (414)in the limiting head (411) of the central shaft (41) and the limitinghead (411) of the central shaft (41) can be rotated relative to thepositioning head (212) of the tilt shaft (21). Therefore, the centralshaft (41) can be rotated relative to the tilt shaft (21).

When the limiting sides (412) of the limiting head (411) of the centralshaft (41) align with the positioning head (212) of the tilt shaft (21),the positioning protrusion (216) engages the annular slot (414) in thelimiting head (411) of the central shaft (41) to keep the tilt shaft(21) from rotating relative to the central shaft (41). Therefore, thecover (50) cannot be closed when the cover (50) is rotated relative tothe base (60) to prevent unnecessary broken.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and features of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. A hinge comprising: a central bracket having a main arm having afirst end; a second end; an inner surface; an outer surface; a circularcentral hole; and an annular recess formed in the inner surface of themain arm around the central hole to reduce abrasions; a first arm formedperpendicularly on the first end of the main arm and having an innersurface; an outer surface; a circular central hole; an inner annularrecess formed in the inner surface of the first arm around the centralhole to reduce abrasions; and an outer annular recess formed in theouter surface of the first arm around the central hole to reduceabrasions; and a second arm formed perpendicularly on the second end ofthe main arm; a first tilt hinge assembly connecting to the first arm ofthe central bracket and comprising a tilt shaft connecting rotatably tothe first arm and having an inner end; a positioning head formedradially on the inner end of the tilt shaft; and a positioningprotrusion formed axially on an inner surface of the positioning head;and a first rotating bracket mounted securely on the tilt shaft; asecond tilt hinge assembly connecting to the second arm of the centralbracket and comprising a barrel connecting securely to the second arm ofthe central bracket; and a second rotating bracket mounted rotatably onthe barrel; and a rotating hinge assembly connecting to the main arm ofthe central bracket and comprising a central shaft connecting rotatablyto main arm of the central bracket and having an inner end; and alimiting head formed radially on the inner end of the central shaft,corresponding to the positioning head of the tilt shaft and having twolimiting sides being opposite to each other; two flat sides beingopposite to each other and formed between two limiting sides, whereinthe limiting sides and the flat sides alternatively align with thepositioning head of the tilt shaft; and an annular slot formed radiallyin the limiting head of the central shaft and corresponding to andselectively engaging the positioning protrusion of the positioning headof the tilt shaft and disengaging from the positioning protrusion of thepositioning head of the tilt shaft when one of the flat sides of thelimiting head aligns with the positioning head of the tilt shaft; and afastening bracket mounted securely on the central shaft.
 2. The hinge asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first arm of the central bracket has atleast one positioning detent formed in the outer annular recess of thefirst arm; and the first tilt hinge assembly further comprises astationary positioning spacer mounted securely on the tilt shaftadjacent to the outer surface of the first arm of the central bracketand having an inner surface facing to the outer surface of the firstarm; and at least one positioning protrusion that is formed on the innersurface of the stationary positioning spacer and corresponds to andselectively engages the at least one positioning detent of the firstarm.
 3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first arm has atleast one limiting protrusion formed on and extending from the innersurface of the first arm; and the tilt shaft has an outer end; and alimiting head formed radially on the outer end of the tilt shaft andhaving an outer surface abutting the inner surface of the first arm; anda limiting protrusion formed transversely on an edge of the limitinghead and selectively abutting the at least one limiting protrusion ofthe first arm.
 4. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first armhas at least one limiting protrusion formed on and extending from theinner surface of the first arm; and the tilt shaft has an outer end; andlimiting head formed radially on the outer end of the tilt shaft andhaving an outer surface abutting the inner surface of the first arm; anda limiting protrusion formed transversely on an edge of the limitinghead and selectively abutting the at least one limiting protrusion ofthe first arm.
 5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main armof the central bracket has at least one positioning detent formed in theannular recess of the main arm; and the rotating hinge assembly furthercomprises a rotating positioning spacer that is mounted securely on thecentral shaft adjacent to the inner surface of the main arm and has atleast one positioning protrusion formed on the rotating positioningspacer and corresponding to and selectively engaging the positioningdetent of the main arm.
 6. The hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein themain arm of the central bracket has at least one positioning detentformed in the annular recess of the main arm; and the rotating hingeassembly further comprises a rotating positioning spacer that is mountedsecurely on the central shaft adjacent to the inner surface of the mainarm and has at least one positioning protrusion formed on the rotatingpositioning spacer and corresponding to and selectively engaging thepositioning detent of the main arm.
 7. The hinge as claimed in claim 1,wherein the main arm of the central bracket has two ribs beingperpendicularly formed on the two sides of the main arm respectively andextended from the inner surface; the limiting sides and flat sides ofthe limiting head of the central shaft alternatively align with theribs; and the limiting sides of the limiting head of the central shaftengage the ribs when the limiting sides align with the ribs.